Charlotte County’s Mid-County Regional Library to reopen in 2026Man accused of deadly Matlacha DUI crash takes plea deal with state
Charlotte County’s Mid-County Regional Library to reopen in 2026 After about $6.9 million in repairs and renovations to Mid-County Regional Library in Port Charlotte, the library is expected to reopen in 2026.
MATLACHA Man accused of deadly Matlacha DUI crash takes plea deal with state A man accused of driving drunk and crashing into the patio of a Matlacha restaurant, killing a woman and injuring others, has taken a plea deal with the state.
Opera Naples set to make land offer with seven-figure gift A seven-figure gift has provided the base for Opera Naples, Theater in the Garden and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation to build an international center for the arts.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber distributes over $167K in hurricane relief funding The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced over $167,000 in critical funding has been provided to individuals affected by Helene and Milton.
Cyclist group riding 500 miles for charity to pass through LaBelle Thirty-six Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure cyclist members participating in the annual 500-mile Tour de Florida charity ride will be passing through LaBelle next week.
marco island YMCA to break ground on healthy living facility in Marco Island The YMCA of Collier County is set to break ground for a healthy living facility in Marco Island.
NAPLES Naples Airport Authority in need of volunteers for Noise Compatibility Committee The Naples Airport Authority is seeking applications to fill three volunteer positions on its Noise Compatibility Committee (NCC).
Body found following Port Charlotte house fire Charlotte County deputies have found a body in the ruins of a house in Port Charlotte after a fire destroyed most of it.
the weather authority Cold front brings less humid air this Tuesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front, which will bring in less humidity and cooler temperatures this Tuesday.
golden gate city Collier County launches pilot program to fend off mosquitoes, diseases The Collier Mosquito Control District is launching a pilot program to use sterilization to target invasive insects in Golden Gate City.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Man accused of burglarizing several businesses in Fort Myers A crime spree came to an end Sunday night after deputies arrested a man they found hiding in some bushes.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers cross country runner reflects on state championship Fort Myers High School senior cross country runner Masha Dorofeev reflects on her state championship win and committing to UCF.
CAPE CORAL Coyote kills beloved family pet in Cape Coral For 16 years, Sarge and his owner, James Stewart were inseparable.
FORT MYERS Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shop A local artist is throwing a fashion show at a tattoo shop, an event that will also feature music performances and an art exhibition.
Charlotte County’s Mid-County Regional Library to reopen in 2026 After about $6.9 million in repairs and renovations to Mid-County Regional Library in Port Charlotte, the library is expected to reopen in 2026.
MATLACHA Man accused of deadly Matlacha DUI crash takes plea deal with state A man accused of driving drunk and crashing into the patio of a Matlacha restaurant, killing a woman and injuring others, has taken a plea deal with the state.
Opera Naples set to make land offer with seven-figure gift A seven-figure gift has provided the base for Opera Naples, Theater in the Garden and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation to build an international center for the arts.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber distributes over $167K in hurricane relief funding The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced over $167,000 in critical funding has been provided to individuals affected by Helene and Milton.
Cyclist group riding 500 miles for charity to pass through LaBelle Thirty-six Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure cyclist members participating in the annual 500-mile Tour de Florida charity ride will be passing through LaBelle next week.
marco island YMCA to break ground on healthy living facility in Marco Island The YMCA of Collier County is set to break ground for a healthy living facility in Marco Island.
NAPLES Naples Airport Authority in need of volunteers for Noise Compatibility Committee The Naples Airport Authority is seeking applications to fill three volunteer positions on its Noise Compatibility Committee (NCC).
Body found following Port Charlotte house fire Charlotte County deputies have found a body in the ruins of a house in Port Charlotte after a fire destroyed most of it.
the weather authority Cold front brings less humid air this Tuesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front, which will bring in less humidity and cooler temperatures this Tuesday.
golden gate city Collier County launches pilot program to fend off mosquitoes, diseases The Collier Mosquito Control District is launching a pilot program to use sterilization to target invasive insects in Golden Gate City.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Man accused of burglarizing several businesses in Fort Myers A crime spree came to an end Sunday night after deputies arrested a man they found hiding in some bushes.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers cross country runner reflects on state championship Fort Myers High School senior cross country runner Masha Dorofeev reflects on her state championship win and committing to UCF.
CAPE CORAL Coyote kills beloved family pet in Cape Coral For 16 years, Sarge and his owner, James Stewart were inseparable.
FORT MYERS Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shop A local artist is throwing a fashion show at a tattoo shop, an event that will also feature music performances and an art exhibition.
Sanibel Causeway during infrastructure reconstruction. CREDIT: WINK News Progress is being made on the Sanibel Causeway. A lot of work has been done since the temporary roadway opened to traffic in October, a mere three weeks after Hurricane Ian destroyed sections of the causeway. Crews are working on several tasks, such as removing traffic railings and installing sheet piles. The Florida Department of Transportation said the goal is the road work should be permit-permitting. Crews are hard at work all around the causeway and are not disrupting places where birds are nesting. Care for animals is just one of the ways engineers working on the causeway keep the environment in mind. Reconstruction designs for the Sanibel Causeway. CREDIT: FDOT In Jack Elias’s 48 years living on the Barrier Island, he can’t begin to guess how many times he’s driven over the causeway. “That feeling will never stop, that beautiful feeling of seeing the islands. That’s very special,” said Elias. Driving over the causeway, you can’t help but notice the mangroves on your right, the lighthouse to the left and the glistening water all around. Thirty years ago, John Scheer came to indulge in the beauty and quaintness the island offers. “The way it’s protected so well, we just couldn’t pass it up,” said Scheer. Sanibel’s commitment to protecting the sanctuary island’s natural systems can be seen all over the Causeway’s green and gray infrastructure reconstruction. Gray is concrete-like materials you see on the project, roads and sea wall. The sheet piles provide extra armor to the Causeway. Green is using natural and native plants to reestablish the coastline. Crews will plant natural vegetation for erosion protection and mangroves to harden the shoreline. Sanibel knows natural barriers are some of our best defenders against the elements. Engineers working on the project say the new design using green and gray infrastructure provides a more resilient causeway but aesthetically will look very similar to before. Those are two points that long-time Sanibel residents appreciate. “They’ve already got some of the trees going and stuff, so it’s starting to kick back up again,” said Jodi Hubler, who works on the island. “I can’t wait for it to be totally the way it was before.” The project is estimated to cost $285 million, and the feds will pick up 80% of the bill with the state and/or Lee County footing the rest.